Head of Subsurface – Developments and Production

Prax; Aberdeen City; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job description

Head of Subsurface – Developments and Production

Location: Aberdeen

We are seeking an experienced Subsurface Development Manager with a strong background in reservoir engineering to oversee and optimize the production and future development of Prax’s fields.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing subsurface activities, optimizing reservoir performance, and leading multidisciplinary teams to ensure optimum delivery from the existing fields and progressing development of near field opportunities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the subsurface development strategy to maximize gas recovery and field performance in the Greater Laggan Area.
• Monitor reservoir performance, analyse production data, and recommend offtake strategies and requirements for interventions.
• Oversee reservoir characterization, modelling, and simulation studies to guide development plans.
• Define and optimize well placement, drilling schedules, and completion strategies for future infill or near field opportunities.
• Implement enhanced recovery techniques and depletion strategies to improve recovery efficiency as appropriate.
• Lead a multidisciplinary team, including geoscientists, production engineers, and petrophysicists, to integrate reservoir insights into field development.
• Work closely with drilling, production, and facilities teams to ensure alignment of subsurface plans with surface infrastructure.
• Evaluate and recommend investment decisions for new wells, workovers, and facility expansions.
• Conduct risk assessments and develop mitigation strategies for subsurface uncertainties.
• Provide technical oversight on reservoir studies, reserves estimation, and field development planning.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including joint venture partners and regulatory bodies, to ensure compliance with industry standards.
• Prepare and present field development proposals, technical reviews, and investment justifications to management and partners.
• Ensure adherence to HSE (Health, Safety & Environmental) policies in all subsurface operations.

Qualifications

Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering, Reservoir Engineering, or a related field.

Required Skills

• 15+ years of experience in reservoir engineering with at least 5 years in gas field development, production optimisation and leading integrated subsurface teams.
• Proven ability to lead and influence multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong expertise in reservoir simulation, well performance analysis, and field development planning.
• Experience with gas reservoirs, including depletion strategies, pressure maintenance, and production optimization.
• Proficiency in industry-standard subsurface software (e.g., Eclipse, Petrel, MBAL, Prosper).
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Knowledge of UK regulatory regime.

Preferred Skills

• Strong proficiency in reservoir modelling and production optimisation across integrated production models.
• Familiarity with industry-standard workflows and software.
• Experience working with large-scale data sets and advanced analytical tools.
• Familiarity with regulatory frameworks governing the oil and gas industry.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex data in a clear and concise manner.